Forsaken Daughter Pampered by Top Hier

15:19 Mon, 10 Mar M

Chapter 149

Chapter 149

Flashes of this year’s birthday hit her like a slideshow–the silence, the empty apartment.

The Harts? Chris? They were all off in Europe with Olivia.

Not one text. Not one call.

Forgotten? Not a chance.

She and Olivia had the same birthday–they knew. They just didn’t care.

That part didn’t sting anymore. What stuck in her head was why, after all that, Catlin still refused to sign the disownment

papers.

“What’s wrong?” Sebastian’s voice pulled her back.

Stephanie shook her head, her smile faint. “Nothing. Just… been a while since anyone thought my birthday was worth celebrating.”

Ever since she left the Giovannis, birthdays stopped meaning anything.

Before she could say anything else, Sebastian pulled her straight into his arms.

His heartbeat was right there under her cheek–strong, steady, and grounding.

His voice dropped low, rougher than usual. “Still thinking about running off again?”

Her eyes burned, and before she could stop herself, the tears slipped. “No. Never again.”

The Casalinis were already wiped off the map. She had no reason to run anymore.

Sebastian held her tighter, like she might disappear if he let go.

“Sorry, Seb.” Her arms wrapped around his waist, face buried against his chest.

He didn’t answer, just smoothed a hand over her hair, fingers sliding through gently.

She had nothing to be sorry for. Back then, he was neck–deep in turf wars and putting out fires left and right.

He barely had a second to look her way–that’s how the Casalinis slipped through the cracks.

By the time Stephanie made it back to the office, a good thirty minutes had passed.

Jennifer’s eyes zeroed in on the necklace the second Stephanie walked in.

“Hold up–boss, where the hell did you get that? It looks… Weirdly familiar.”

“Sicily Sunrise,” Stephanie said casually.

Jennifer’s jaw dropped. “Are you kidding me?”

That diamond wasn’t just expensive–it was a legend.

Auctioned for over 30 million dollars, with billionaires and royals fighting over it–and Stephanie was just wearing it?

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15:19 Mon, 10 Mar

Chapter 149

afford something like that even if

It

bome from him.

on Jennifer’s face and raised a brow.

it was almost comical. “It’s gorgeous. Ridiculously

just smiled. Of

still

a second before it clicked.

smile disappeared like

***

、 87%L

+5

walked into her office, Catlin was already sitting there,

door open, she tried to pull herself together,

were you? I’ve been waiting forever. Your assistant called you three times, but you didn’t even pick up.”

her voice–along with a trace of

even reach Stephanie these days, Catlin had resorted to using half the phones

Catlin had never met a

Olivia was back on her feet, she planned to have a long chat with

parenting turned out a

desk, zero interest in small talk. “Alright, what do you want?”

she couldn’t imagine why Catlin

sunlight hit the necklace she was wearing, sending bright flecks of light

her, it was impossible to miss. Her eyes locked onto it

10

Chapter 149

Chapter 149

birthday hit her like a slideshow–the silence, the empty apartment.

Chris? They were all off in Europe with

text. Not one

Not a

Olivia had the same birthday–they knew. They

sting anymore. What stuck in her head was why, after all that, Catlin still refused

papers.

voice pulled her back.

been a while since anyone

since she left the Giovannis, birthdays

she could say anything else, Sebastian pulled her

was right there under

dropped low, rougher than usual. “Still

burned, and before she could stop herself, the tears slipped. “No. Never again.”

map. She had no reason to run anymore.

might disappear

Seb.” Her arms wrapped around his waist, face buried against

a hand over her hair, fingers sliding

sorry for. Back then, he was neck–deep in turf wars and putting out fires

second to look her way–that’s how the Casalinis slipped through the cracks.

Stephanie made it back to the office, a good thirty

on the necklace

hell did you get that? It looks…

Sunrise,” Stephanie said casually.

“Are

wasn’t just expensive–it was a

dollars, with billionaires and royals fighting over

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